Pay more, get more? City of Gold Residents under financial pressure
Johannesburg residents are facing another round of tariff increases, with water, sanitation, electricity, refuse removal and property rates all becoming more expensive from 1 July 2026. While the City argues that these increases are necessary to maintain infrastructure and services, many residents continue to experience an ever decreasing service delivery level.
Approved Increases
- Water: +12.5%
- Sanitation: +11%
- Electricity: +8.63%
- Refuse Removal: +6.2%
- Property Rates: +3.6%
The City has justified these increases by citing rising bulk supply costs, infrastructure backlogs, maintenance requirements, and financial sustainability concerns. However, DearSA among many residents argue that service delivery has not improved at the same pace as the annual increases in municipal charges.
If residents are paying more every year, are they receiving better services in return?
Many communities continue to report:
- Missed refuse collection days.
- Potholes remaining unrepaired for months.
- Frequent water outages.
- Sewer spills into rivers and other locations.
- Electricity interruptions.
- Faults taking weeks to resolve.
- Unmaintained parks and public spaces.
- Non-functioning traffic lights.
While tariff increases may be necessary to maintain infrastructure, citizens have a right to expect reliable service delivery and accountability for every rand collected.
Why This Matters
Johannesburg's budget now exceeds R97 billion, funded largely through rates and service charges paid by residents and businesses. Citizens should be able to see measurable improvements in the services they receive.
This DearSA campaign seeks to determine whether service delivery is matching the growing financial burden being placed on residents.
In the Media
About DearSA – Where Data Meets Democracy
DearSA is South Africa’s leading public participation platform, empowering citizens to have a direct say in government decisions that impact their lives. We bridge the gap between residents and policymakers by ensuring that public input is collected, analyzed, and presented effectively to decision-makers.
DearSA, is where data meets democracy, ensures that public participation directly influences policy decisions. By completing this form, your comments will be sent to Parliament for consideration.
How Can You Help?
DearSA is calling on residents to share their experiences and help determine whether the quality of service delivery is keeping pace with rising municipal costs.
Are your bins collected on time? Are potholes repaired? Are water and electricity faults resolved promptly? If you are paying more, are you getting more?
Complete the survey and let your voice be heard.
Contribute to democracy
Please consider supporting our platform and help reach more participants.
A small amount creates a huge impact. DearSA® is a registered South African non-profit organisation and, like all non-profits, does not qualify for relief funding from government. Please assist where you can.
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